Refrigerator



March 31, 1942.

c. E. BAKER REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 29, 1938 I h u lllI/lllll/I/ C. E. BAKER Patented Mar. 31, 19 42 REFRIGERATOR Clarence E. Baker, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,693

4 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to improvements in refrigerator cabinet construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved type of breaker strip or molding for the space betweenthe marginal edge portions or flanges of the inner and outer walls of a refrigerator cabinet, as for example, around a door or a door opening, the breaker strip being of the releasable or detachable type and so constructed as to provide a highly simplified arrangement which may be easily and quickly applied and removed, and at the same time is low in cost and manufacture and expedites assembly.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a refrigerator cabinet constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention, the door of the cabinet being shown in open position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional views taken through the cabinet adjacent the door opening, the breaker strip being shown in applied position in Fig. 2 and pressed inwardly ready for removal in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the inner side of the breaker strip of Figs. 1 to '3, inclusive;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed perspective views of the spring clips used in mounting the breaker strip; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view show- Referring to the drawing in detail, a refrig erator cabinet is generally indicated at C in Fig. 1, and is provided with spaced inner and outer metallic walls Ill and II having insulation material therebetween, the inner wall constituting a food compartment liner defining a food compartment I2.

The invention is particularly directed to an improved type of breaker strip or molding overlying the space between the inner and outer walls It and I I around the door opening, but which may also be used for a like purpose in connection with the door. 1

In the example shown, the breaker strip comprises a breaker strip proper I3 of suitable material of low heat conductivity, the strip having cemented or otherwise connected to the back thereof a backing strip II, which may be of wood or other suitable material and functions to stiffen and reinforce the breaker strip as well as provide a spring clip support. The breaker strip or molding is detachably 'mounted by means of spring clips I5 and I6, each of which is constructed in a particular manner to coact with the adjacent free marginal edges or flanges of the inner and outer walls I0 and II. The clips I5 and I6 are respectively provided with attaching portions I54; and Mia and spring arms which are projected inwardly from such portion and then turned or doubled upon themselves. clip l5 terminates in a flange-engaging portion I5b which is inclined or cammed to thereby normally draw the strip to its seat, while the arm of clip l6 terminates in a bent portion defining a detent or depression I6b adapted to engage the free edge of the adjacent flange and hold or lock the strip against displacement.

The clips may be tacked or otherwise secured to the backing strip I4, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and are preferably separate from one another and spaced apart along the length of the backing strip, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, to obviate heat transmission between the inner and outer walls I0 and II of the cabinet. The inner wall III, which defines the food compartment of the liner is shown as having a shape to define a bead l'l around the door opening and terminates in an inwardly projecting flange I 8 while the outer wall I I terminates in an inturned marginal flange I9, note Figs. 2 and 3; the ends I5b and IBb of the spring clips I5 and It being shaped as shown and described to detachably engage said flanges when the strip is applied.

The inner and outer walls I0 and II may be held in connected and spaced relation by means of U-shaped connecting members 20 arranged at spaced intervals about the door opening, the said members being of such depth as to accommodate the backing strip I4.

The breaker strip may be applied simply by exerting pressure thereon, causing the extremities I 5b and I6!) of thespring arms to engage the free flanged edges I8 and I9 of the walls I0 and II as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the breaker strip may be removed, the said strip being pressed toward the back of the cabinet until the ends of the inclined portions I5b of the clips I5 clear the flange I 9 of the outer wall II, whereupon the strip may be pulled toward the front of thecabinet until the detents IGb of the clips I6 clear the flange I8.

The simplicity of construction and ease in ef- The arm Of fecting installation and removal of the breaker strip will be readily apparent.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative type of breaker strip 2| which has on the back thereof stiffening and reinforcing ribs 22, and also a series of bosses 23 spaced where attaching clips are desired. The ribs 22 and bosses 23 may be molded with the' strip as an integral unit. The spring clips may be applied by forming holes 24 in the bosses 23 and inserting therein push rivets or other suitable fasteners. With this arrangement, the backing strip l4 may be eliminated, the rib construction of the strip giving the latter the necessary strength and rigidity.

It will be understood that limited changes in construction and design of the improved molding or breaker strip assembly and coacting parts as herein illustrated may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for. separably mounting a cover strip over the space between opposed edges of spaced apart flanges, comprising a series of clips attached to the under face of said strip, said series including a pair. of resilient coacting arms formed to project into said space and to thereafter diverge toward said face, each of said arms terminating in an end portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said face, one of said end portions being bent inwardly and forming a longitudinally convex outer surface, and the other of said end portions being bent outwardly and forming a longitudinally concave outer surface, the normal divergence of said end portions being greater than the width of said space.

. 2. In a refrigerator cabinet, inner and outer walls spaced and insulated from each other and having spaced opposed marginal edges, a molding or breaker strip overlying the space between said edges, and a series of clips attached to the under face of said strip, said series including a pair of resilient coacting arms formed to project into said space and to thereafter diverge towards said face, each of said arms terminating in an end portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said face, one of said end portions being bent inwardly and forming a longitudinally convex outer surface and the other of said end portions. being bent outwardly and forming a' longitudinally concave outer surface, the normal divergence of said end portions being greater than the width of said space.

3. Means for separately mounting a cover strip over the space between opposed edges of spaced apart flanges, comprising a series of clips attached to the under face of said strip, said series including a pair of resilient coacting arms formed to project into said space and to thereafter diverge toward said face, each of said arms terminating in an end portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said face, one of said end portions having a convex outer surface, and the other of said end portions having a concave outer surface, the normal divergence of said end portions being greater than the widthof said space.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, inner and outer walls spaced and insulated from each other and having spaced opposed marginal edges, a molding or breaker strip overlying the space between said edges, and a series of clips attached to the under face of said strip, said series including a pair of resilient coacting arms formed to project into said space and to thereafter diverge towards said face, each of said arms terminating in an end portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said face, one of said end portions having a convex outer surface, and the other of said end portions having a concave outer surface, the normal divergence of said end portions being greater than the width of said space.

CLARENCE E. BAKER. 

